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Saturday, November 26, 2016

WE ARE................... Penn State.
I am totally riding the high of this incredible football season the Nittany Lions are having. I can't remember the last time they were ranked so high in the AP. How exciting! The football gods are shining down on Beaver Stadium once again. Good for them! And speaking of football, because really, when am I not.....

Beaver Stadium, State College, Pennsylvania

My first major football game was not an NFL game. It was a Penn State Game. It was part of an amazing Football Weekend adventure Becky and I had back in September of 2014. We saw Penn State on Saturday and the Steelers on Sunday. Talk about a football high! I am an absolute football junkie and I was about to get a double dose of pure, 100% grade A football for the first time in my life. What a fix! Some people choose to be crack whores. I choose be a football whore. Bad analogy but IDGAF!

Now let's talk about Heaven.

First off, Beaver Stadium is massive compared to Heinz Field. The Steelers' stadium can hold 65,050 people. Beaver Stadium holds 107,282 people. Becky and I were attending the Nittany Lions home opener against the Akron Zips. It was jam packed. It also cost almost as much to park as it did to attend the game. I remember saying to Becky' "Did that sign say 40 fucking dollars?" Oh yes....it sure did. It's cheaper to park in downtown Philadelphia for the entire day than it is for a few hours in State College, Pennsylvania. It really pisses me off how much people get ripped off at events.

Wasn't going to let this spoil my mood though. I handed the attendant two twenty dollar bills and off we went to find a spot. We started our Penn State adventure tailgating with another lovely lady, Courtney, whom is an absolute riot. We ate nachos and hotdogs and laughed our asses off. She and her friends were great hosts! It was a beautiful day too. The sky was sunny and blue, the temperature around 70 degrees.

Around 11:30, Becky said we should make our way to the stadium. It's time! Woooooo! I remember walking, well running really, from the tailgating lot to the stadium to catch a glimpse of the Blue Band as they made their way into the stadium. The band sounded perfect. It reminded me of high school. I was a member of the HHS bandfront my sophomore year. The band and us flag twirlers would march from the high school to Harman Geist Stadium for all the home football games. It was so much fun.

Such awesome memories flooded my mind while I snapped pictures of the Blue Band marching into Beaver Stadium. I kept turning and looking at Becky in complete awe. The stadium was huge, vibrant and alive! The big blue Nittany Lion on top of the stadium winked at me I swear to god. Tears of happiness and excitement were welling up in my eyes. I could not wait to get in the stadium. But first, I had to throw my purse away. No purses were allowed in the stadium. I did not know that. Turns out it was also protocol for Heinz Field.

The security guard supplied Becks and I with ziploc bags and we dumped the contents of our purses in them. We debated walking back to the car to drop off the purses for like a second, then we were like....fuck it. Ain't nobody got time for that. I got a game to see, a band to listen too and some vocal chords to strain. I tossed our purses in the nearest garbage can and the gates of Heaven opened, beckoning us.

My eyes were huge as we walked out onto the deck and into the blue. I was stupified to say the least! You think it looks big on TV.....it is nothing compared to actually being inside the stadium. I needed a moment to compose myself and take it all in. We explored the stadium a little bit then found our seats. We were right in the end zone near the top of the lower level. Oh hell yeah! I thanked Becky for making one of my dreams come true.

As we sat down, the Jumbotron started introducing the Nittany Lions football team. The crowd started going wild. One of the starting wide receivers is from Wilkes Barre, Geno Lewis. ( He is now playing on the Sooners.) Becky chuckles when she sees he is going by Geno. She knows him as Eugene. Finally PSU quarterback Christian Hackenberg flashed on the screen. The crowd erupted in a 107,000 Nation Army of cheers. Whoaaaaa! Whoaaaaaa! Whoaaaaaa! The Blue Band was making their way onto the field. They are true rockstars in my eyes! All marching band members are.

I film a video of the players rushing the field with my new phone. Tears begin to well again when they all kneel in the end zone. I found that so endearing. Next to me, Becky is making friends as she always does. Just a few hours ago while we were waiting in line at the Clinton County I-80 rest stop to use the rest room with about 100 other Penn State fans, a lady was telling Becky her whole life story including the TMI parts. I can't remember all of it but it had something to do with toilet paper and her son. I just laughed.

Let the games begin!! The crowd was so loud. I freakin loved it! I love it loud. That may be why I am half deaf now but what a way to go. Between Jack White and Zombie Nation and a really cool stadium wave, Penn State was actually playing a decent football game. I know the Zips are not a Big Ten team but it was a good game. There was also alumni in the house. Former Nittany Lion and NY Giants QB Kerry Collins was there along with former Pittsburgh Steeler Jeff Hartings. There was going to be a ceremony honoring some alumni during half time.

There are some very famous alumni from the Nittany Lions football organization. Mike Munchak and Jeff Cappalletti, PSU's only Heismen Trophy winner, are two of them. Robbie Gould, Matt McGloin, and Jesse James are some of the more recent alumni to cross over to the NFL, along with rookie Hack on the NY Jets, to name a few. (The Jets should just let Hack play dammit.)

However, there are two legends beyond legend that came from Penn State. They are most certainly football gods enshrined forever in the NFL Hall of Fame, perched upon Mt. Olympus. (Actually the HOF is perched upon flat piece of land in Canton, Ohio but I think my Mt. Olympus version is way more exciting than Ohio. LMAO! I mean come on. Ohio? Yea Ohio has the Buckeyes and some really cool roller coasters, but take away Lebron James and Jobu and all you have is the Cleveland Browns and a Bengal team that can't win a play off game even with the Heat Miser as their QB. Just saying.)

Rant over. Back to the most famous Penn State Football Alumni of all time.......
There are two of them. Can you name them?
I can. :)

I'll give you some hints.
Steel Window Coverings.
Smashing Pumpkins 1979 Super Bowl Winners.
Lords of the 4 Rings
Get off the fence and the letter D + the word fence.
Flawless Encounter and Spiral, Virginia or Smoked .........

I'll let you ponder that for a a little while. Good luck trying to make sense of my ramblings. I'll post the answers after the blog.

As for the ending of my Heaven'ly experience, there were touchdowns. There were tight ends catches that made Becky very happy. She loves a good tight end catch. There were penalty flags. Of course there were penalty flags. Pennsylvania teams excel at getting yellow flags thrown on the field. No shocker there. The Zips came to play. They gave the Lions a good fight. But, in the end, Penn State won the game!!! Now.... I'm not going to say it was my awesome, powerful presence and sparkling aura that helped the Nittany Lions win the game but... I'm not going to deny that my being in the house may have had an affect on the outcome of the game.

Either way, the stadium was wild with positive energy. My first major football game experience ended in a win! And the next day my beloved Steelers would also win! It was definitely a very successful and fantastical football weekend for me. I would ride that high for a long time! And the Eagles won for Becky!! I know this because she stood in the stands at Heinz Field with black and white pom poms singing Fly Eagles Fly. That's why I love her so!

Becky and I hung around for awhile after the game. Once the fans left the stadium, we had an opportunity to get closer to the field. The band was still there, playing music on the field. We soaked it all in, took some awesome selfies and discussed the next leg of our journey. I must say it was in this moment that I truly began to comprehend the immense impact of what Penn State football has been through over the past few years. We all know what happened so I am not going to mention it. It's horrible. But from witnessing all the excited fans in stadium, all the students showing their Penn State pride and all the heart these young athletes played with today, I just knew this school would eventually recover. It's going to take a long time, but it will recover.

I never even thought twice about suggesting and supporting my own two kiddos going to Penn State. I myself was a former Nittany Lion. And while finishing my degree from Penn State was put on the back burner, my children will realize a dream that I, myself, may never. Both my kids will have degrees from Penn State University in 2017. Life does come full circle. It may not be the way you mapped it out, but it does come full circle. I have never been more proud.

WE ARE!!!!!!

Chrissy

The most famous players/alumni of the Penn State University Nittany Lions football team.........

Saturday, November 19, 2016

This past weekend I decided to do some cleaning and organizing while watching the college football games. The holidays are coming up. Soon I will be busy cooking and baking and decorating. There will be parties and get togethers. There will be shopping trips. There will be several drives out to State College. There will be over eating and napping and presents. There will be stress and anxiety. Well.... the anxiety is always there but sometimes it's dormant. Not any longer though!! Lucky me! It's wide awake now.

And with the anxiety comes slacker days. I am very protective of my slacker days. I have come to enjoy them. I need them. They are healthy for me. I was definitely going to need a few slacker days this holiday season. So, I decided to get my butt in gear and get some of the not so fun stuff out of the way before the holidays. I started in the living room and kitchen....mostly because those rooms are near the TV and it was college football Saturday.

Little did I know that on this cleaning day, I would come to realize what my greatest, most life long collection would be. I discovered it while cleaning and sorting through the boxes, baskets and trunks in my living room. It shouldn't have astonished me, but it did.

Treasure Chests

Collections and The Collector, A Fascination Game.......
Being a lifelong collector of something is very enjoyable. Why? I am not sure I can pinpoint exactly why. Some thoughts.....

Maybe it is a small but meaningful goal we need in our day to day lives. A goal that is attainable. We may not even realize we set this little goal. Let's face it, achieving a goal, even a small one, has a satisfying and positive impact on one's life. Maybe it is a tangible reminder of an event, that when gazed upon or held, brings forth special memories from the banks of your mind. Memories made during a wonderful experience or adventure you had.

Maybe it reminds us of loved ones. Maybe the collection was inspired by a family member or friend. Maybe you are adding to an already existing collection of someone you love, who is no longer around. Maybe it is just fun to do. Maybe it is just stuff you like. Maybe it is a good addiction in a world full of bad ones. There are lots of reasons why we collect objects, none of which are wrong. Well....unless you collect people. If you collect people you are most likely a serial killer or a serial something and that is very, very wrong. Don't collect people. Very wrong.

Anyways, I put having a life long collection on my bucket list. I decided I was going to write about my souvenir patches because next to photos, that was the only life long collection that I genuinely had. Or so I thought. You see, I have this big wicker trunk in my living room that I wanted to vacuum behind. When I went to move it, it was freakin' heavy. My back was not expecting that.... at all. Guess we are going to sort through this too, I thought to myself. Might as well.

I knew what was in this trunk. It was used to store random photos, trinkets, menus, maps, greeting cards, and everything else under the sun that did not have a home. It was time to make a home for everything. I had a few decorative suitcases and another smaller trunk that were homes in the making. Let's put all of this together and make more sense of it.

When I pulled back the hinge on the trunk I gasped a little. I did not realize I had put so much stuff in there. I grabbed the other trunk and cases and began my chore. I spent the next 8 hours laughing and crying and reminiscing. Turns out, it's my journeys and adventures with friends and family that fascinate me most. 43 years of my life was sprawled out on the floor around me. 43 years of memories and emotions spilled out on my living room carpet.

Let's take a peek inside my box of treasures.

The contents included:
Menus from the many restaurants I have visited over the years.
Maps of the places I have traveled.
Hotel brochures from places I stayed.
Mini golf sheets from days out golfing with my son.
They keys from my Pontiac 6000, my first car.
Birthday cards from my grandparents.
Drumsticks and guitar picks from concerts and local bands.
Football schedules from high school.
My first checkbook.
Nametags from restaurants I worked.
Ticket stubs....holy ticket stubs from games and movies and concerts and events.
Awards, stickers, and decals.
Souvenir patches.
Wine tasting lists
Handwritten notes and cards.
Stolen trinkets from drunken nights with friends.
City guide books.
Wedding invitations and favors.
My greyhound's dog tags. Snowball's dog tags.

My Ticket Stubs

My first library card was in that trunk. I got that card 33 years ago, but I can recall my trips to the library as a kid, especially wondering around the K section in fiction, (Stephen King) like they were yesterday.

I found some of the little drawings of animals my daughter would make for me when she was little. I used to carry my favorites in my wallet. On especially rough waitressing days, I would open my wallet and look at those little drawings.

My 40th birthday crown Becky had given me for winefest weekend was in that trunk. I remember walking around and being treated like a queen by everyone at Winefest. It made turning 40 so much easier.

My little Virginia Slims Black Book, that my aunt Mary gave me, was in that trunk. All my school friends' addresses and phone numbers were neatly written in that book. I miss the 80's so much.

A weirdly shaped stick I found one night while we were sitting around a fire at Jere's, 8 years ago, was in there. I remember pretending I was a pirate with it. I remember getting hysterical when I lost it. My friends helped me find it. We all had a little too much to drink that night.

I found the necklace Chris made me at the Roadhouse. Another night of too much drinking and a lot of pocket change. We were buying toys out of a candy dispenser machine because it was fun. I remember my friends giving me change to put in the little plastic bubbles as tips for me being me. They still had the change in them.

Some of my memories

I found the little bow tie that went to my son's first Easter suit in there. I miss holding both my babies in my arms. They grew way too fast.

I found the business card of my dad's band The Chords from back in the day. The menu of my mother's former catering business was also in there.

Every single thing that I touched, every single thing that I gazed upon, brought back a flood of memories. Memories that felt as if they were only made yesterday. I laughed. I smiled. I cried. I remembered. This collection of mine cost little to no money. This collection of mine may have no real worth on the buyer's market, but to me, it was absolutely priceless. It was a true treasure chest and it was all mine.

My Souvenir Patches

One day I will be gone, and many of the stories behind some of the mementos I have collected will go with me. But while I am still here, I will continue to add to my life collection. And when I have my bad days, days where I feel like I have accomplished nothing, days where I feel absolutely worthless, I will look at my treasures and know, I have accomplished much. I will know I have lived. I will know how blessed I am and how much value my life truly does hold.

This is how to live.

I may not be a world traveler. I may not be able to partake in every adventure presented to me. I may not be able to afford to do as much as I would like. I may not realize some of my goals and dreams in this lifetime. But I do know that I have lived more life in my 43 years on earth, than most people will live in their lifetime.

This was one of those moments in life where having a deep, sentimental
soul and a sensitive, loving heart was most definitely a blessing and
not a curse. Today was a sign. A sign pointing to another sign. A sign I bought 3 1/2 years ago, when I was feeling happy inside and ready for the next decade of my life.

You see, I took this sign down 2 - 2 1/2 years ago. I couldn't look at it anymore. I felt old and hopeless. My self esteem was at an all time low. But...I think it's time to hang this sign back up. I think it is time to live positively and happily again. I'm more than just the reflection in the mirror. I'm more than the amount in my paycheck. I am more than the town I live in. I am inspiring and fascinating. "Life: Find a passion and pursue it. Fall in love. Dream big. Drink wine. Eat great food and spend quality time with good friends. Laugh everyday. Believe in magic. Tell stories. Reminisce about the good old days but look with optimism to the future. Travel often. Learn more. Be creative. Spend time with people you admire. Seek opportunities when they reveal themselves. Love with all your heart. Never give up. Do what you love. Be true to who you are. Make time to enjoy the simple things in life. Spend time with family. Forgive even when it's hard. Smile often. Be grateful. Be the change you wish to see in the world. Follow your dreams. Try new things. Work hard. Don't count the minutes count the laughs. Embrace change. Trust in yourself. Be thankful. Be nice to everyone. Be happy. Live for today. And above all....make every moment count."

What do you collect?
Why do you collect?
What made you decide to collect the things you do?
Do you remember
your first piece?
What inspired you?
Do you take time to appreciate your collections?
Your answers may surprise you.

Monday, November 7, 2016

In my 43 years, I have never seen an upcoming Presidential election quite like this. It's definitely a milestone election, no matter what party line you pledge your allegiance to. It's heated, it's passionate, and it's bringing out the very best and the very worst in a lot of people.

Look...I'm not writing this blog to lecture anyone nor sway anyone's opinions to the left or the right. Your political affiliation is none of my business to be honest. My political affiliation is none of your business either. That's just how I feel. Trust me, I am not going to hate anyone because they did not vote for the candidate of my choice. I am also not soliciting anyone's opinion on why I should vote for this one, that one, or anyone. I am a grown woman who can make my own choices and decisions.

So let's be real here for a moment.....

No matter who wins this election, we will all have to adjust. Just like we have adjusted time and time again as each President has taken their place in history. Will all of us necessarily like the adjustment? Absolutely not. And this election, just like all past elections, will affect every one of us in one way or another. This is fact. This one of the reasons why it is so important to exercise your right to vote.

I'm not going to get into the state of our country and what is happening to it. We all know what is happening to it. But from what I have gathered on social media outlets, the news, and from listening to conversations...most of us want to make our country better, we just have many different perspectives on how to go about what needs to be done to make it better for all of us. I have also come to the consensus that a lot of Americans are not necessarily thrilled with either of the candidates running for the Presidency in this election.

Don't abstain just because you don't like either of them. You can write in the candidate of your choice. If anything, now more than ever, every single one of us need to be heard. Besides, we are voting for other political offices in addition to President in this upcoming election. Offices that are still going to affect our every day life. Don't sit out the entire vote because of the Presidency.

And since we are being real here, we can all admit....there is no such thing as the perfect candidate. I think we can agree however, that all our past Presidents have done some good things and some not so good things for our nation during their terms. Some tipped the scales more in favor of good, while some tipped them more in favor of not so good. But, I'd be lying if I said there wasn't one good thing that came out of every Presidency regardless of whether I liked them or not.

We also need to keep in mind, yes, there will be a brand new President entering the White House, and that President will have some hefty power, but Congress also has a huge impact on the American way of life. Let's face it....A Republican President working with a Democratic Congress does not always lead to progress and a Democratic President working with a Republican Congress also, does not always lead to progress. Like I mention above, every single politician we vote into office impacts us in one way or another. Use your voice. Vote!

Side Bar: The above statement is by far the biggest reason I am not a fan of political parties or voting party line in general. A lot of my beliefs do not fall perfectly with one party and I refuse to agree with every single thing a candidate is about just because they are in my party.

Truth is, nothing surprises me much anymore in the political arena. And I think that is a very good thing in many ways. In many other ways, though, it completely terrifies me. Trust me when I say, I am by no means making light of this upcoming election. Every election is serious business. Every election!! What I am trying to say is, we are all going to have to adjust. This is why it is so important to vote. This is why we need to use our voice. How do you want to adjust?

Will the candidate you vote for win? There is a chance they will. There is also a chance they won't. I've voted for several candidates in the past whom did not win. I have voted for both Democrats and Republicans. I have also written in candidates because I did not like any of the choices before me. Did I stop voting because my candidate did not win? Hell no. I'm not gathering all my toys and stomping off the playground yard while throwing a hissy fit. What will that solve? Nothing. I still love this country. There is absolutely no place on earth I would rather call home than the USA. So... I will continue to keep voting. My one little voice will be heard. It may be on the losing side of the election but it will be heard nonetheless.

And listening is the key. In order to be a successful politician, you must always take notice of the concerns and differences among all the parties and their constituents. You need to listen to what the American people are saying without prejudice or agenda. Just because it may go against your party's ideal, does not mean it is always wrong. Sometimes it's just different. I think this concept gets lost on a lot of people. Compromising is not always a horrible thing. We are still one nation aren't we? We all still want to be the greatest country on the planet right? We all want to live prosperous and happy lives correct? No, You can't make everyone happy. That is impossible. But you can listen. Political parties can work with one another to make progress rather than against one another and waste valuable time.

I don't know. Maybe I am being naive. Maybe I just refuse to let go of hope. That is why I will always vote. I refuse to let go of hope. This country can no longer afford to be complacent about anything. Getting out and voting is one of the ways we, as a country, as a whole, can promote the change this country is famished for. Voting is one of the ways we can hold onto our hope.

And....If there is one amazing and wonderful thing I have noticed about this upcoming Presidential election, it is the volume of people whom are going to be first time voters. I am also seeing people whom have not voted in a long time, insisting they will vote in this election. That, to me, is so great! I am thrilled to see so many people voting. It should always be this way. Maybe, if it is always this way, we as a nation will see positive change for our country as a whole.

At the end of the day, I do not look at my fellow American citizens as Democratic or Republican or Green...etc. I look at my fellow American citizens as brothers and sisters, trying to live the best life they possibly can in this piece of land we call home. This piece of land we call the United States of America.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

"The Smallest Act of Kindness Is Worth More Than The Grandest Intention." - Oscar Wilde

Remember the Friends episode where Joey and Phoebe have a debate about how hard it is to do a completely selfless act? Even giving something to someone in need is not completely selfless because it makes you feel good, hence, there really are no selfless acts in the world.

That may be true but I think it is okay to feel contented with yourself for doing something for someone in need. You're are contributing to a cause while providing yourself with a much needed, positive self esteem boost. Nothing wrong with that at all. That is a true win win situation. We should feel good about ourselves. We should care about our fellow man, our environment, our planet.

Giving time and/or donations to a cause is not only a very rewarding act for oneself, it also has this radiating ripple effect of positive energy and good intention that is so very infectious. And do not for one minute ever take for granted that at any given moment you may very well find yourself as one of those in need. If there is one thing for certain in life, it is that there is no certainty other than death.

People lose jobs. People fall ill. Fires destroy homes. Acts of terror occur. Businesses crumble. Diseases spread. Accidents happen. Children are born with special needs. Mother Nature can be merciless. Humans can be merciless. The list of tragedies and difficulties one could encounter in a lifetime is so comprehensive and overwhelming. And if by chance, you are fortunate enough to have never experienced a devastating or life altering hardship, I'm pretty positive someone you know, someone you care about, has been touched by tragedy.

I have never had much money in my life. The decisions I have made thus far in life have certainly lead me to some wealth, just not of the financial type of wealth. And yes, I have let opportunities pass me by. Those decisions are mine for my own reasons. I'm not alone on this either. A lot of us live paycheck to paycheck due to various reasons and decisions. I am not here to judge anyone.

I realize many of us do not have much money. Keep in mind though, that there are many other forms of currency that are just as valuable. Time, compassion, listening, volunteering, collecting, lending, coordinating......these acts are just as valuable. I understand many charities need monies to operate, and every little cent does count, but do not allow your financial situation to prevent you from helping in other ways.

And while I do give money to causes, I have given more of myself than anything. I am more than happy to bake for charitable causes and have done so many times. I've cleaned up local nature areas. I have spoken to families with autistic children in support groups, sharing in my experiences. I've volunteered to work stations at charity events. I've donated tricky trays. I've donated waitressing tips to a local children's charity. And I didn't stop there.

I have instilled this behavior in my children as well. Since they were very young, they have been taught the act of charity. My daughter is unbelievably charitable. Together we have gathered clothing for women's shelters. We have worked in a soup kitchen. We have sat in nursing homes lending an ear to it's residents. We have donated to the local pet shelter. We have participated in food drives. We have attended and assisted at military ceremonies.

My son is also willing to donate time, energy and money to causes as well. He is always showing off a new bracelet he has purchased for a cause. He participates in walks and other activity events for many causes. He is currently looking at organizing and coordinating a fundraiser for Suicide prevention.

My family tries to support as many fundraisers, bake sales, events etc. as we possibly can.

We give back as much as we can, when we can. We know what it is like to be on the other side of the coin. My son was able to get his therapy for many years at a minimal cost thanks to the generous people of our community. When my daughter was born, another local charity provided us with a free car seat. My son needed foot braces when he was a toddler. A local charity paid the remainder of the cost for the braces after insurance.

I will forever be so humbled and grateful for the kindness and support given to my family during these times. Times when I had to put my pride aside for the sake of my children. And without the good human beings in the world, none of that would have been possible. My family and myself have endured many hard times and rough situations, some we never thought we would ever have to deal with. Some...there just aren't any words for. We cope. We try. That is all we can do. That is all any of us can do.

Suffering and struggle does not discriminate. It does not care about age, social status, ethnicity, religion, gender or race. It does not care if you are already under enough stress. It does not care about your hopes, dreams and goals. It does not care about your family or loved ones. It DOES NOT care. It just happens. And it can happen at any time.

This is where the compassion of mankind comes in. Most of us do care. Most of us want to help.

There are people out there who legitimately have absolutely nothing. There are people out there whom are struggling with devastating hardships. There are people out there who are fighting for their life, trying to live to see another day. There are families whom have lost everything due to fires and acts of nature. There are children and adults suffering from awful diseases, some very rare. There are veterans suffering from PTSD and other afflictions. There are homeless people looking for a comfortable bed to sleep in and a warm meal to fill their bellies.

How can we help? How do we decide? Well.... Some people are passionate about things that have directly touched their life. Some people are passionate about animals, education, community, the environment, the military. It's your choice. Choose one or choose many. Just choose something.

Take a little time here or there and do something good for humankind and the planet we call home. Take some time to be a good human.

**Just to clarify, not all fundraisers have to do with illness and tragedy. Helping out school organizations, sporting leagues, religious entities, environmental centers, scholarship funds, and wildlife reserves, just to name a few, are all positive endeavors that have a great impact on the local community. It's your backyard, do your part to try and keep it nice.

*** As with any charity or fundraising, always do your research. Make sure it is legitimate. Make sure the intentions of the charities are good. Make sure your time, goods, and/or money are put to proper use.

10 Small but Charitable Things You Can Do On A Daily Basis
They may not seem charitable but trust me, they are.

1. Throw your garbage in a garbage can. (Helping keep the planet clean.)
2. Pay someone a genuine compliment. ( You never know who is suffering from depression.)
3. Turn off any unnecessary electronics/lights. ( Save money. Help the environment.)
4. Don't throw your pennies away. It's money. Save them in a jar. (Donate them to a charity at Christmas.)
5. Feed the birds your stale bread. ( Nourishing the ecosystem chain.)
6. Keep non constructive criticism to yourself. ( Bullying comes in many forms, big and small.)
7. Donate anything in your house that is no longer useful. ( Someone less fortunate can use it.)
8. Re-use your plastic bottles. ( Help landfills and the environment.)
9. Drive safely. ( Save lives and unnecessary injuries)
10. Smile and laugh as much as possible. ( Positive energy lifts spirits.)

Come Into My World For Stroll

My blog posts are short stories about my adventures. They are not always five minutes reads. Just like any author, I enjoy relating the story of my adventures or experiences in a way in which my readers can walk away with a feeling of having been right there with me throughout my journey. My motivation is to inspire and relate with my readers through my passions for writing and living life to the fullest. So.... sit back, grab a drink and come escape with me for a little while to another place and another time.